Obesity is a serious public health issue that requires appropriate management solutions. Telemedicine might be a viable alternative to traditional face-to-face therapies; however, its effectiveness in obesity management is unknown. This systemic review aimed to assess the efficacy of telemedicine versus in-person therapies for obesity management, with an emphasis on weight loss, related health outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to look into randomized controlled trials comparing telemedicine with face-to-face interventions for obesity management. The primary outcomes included weight loss, body mass index (BMI) decrease, systolic blood pressure (SBP) reduction, and HbA1c reduction. Secondary results included cost-effectiveness. Four studies, totaling 2,374 participants, were included. Overall, no statistically significant differences were seen between telemedicine and face-to-face therapies in terms of weight loss, BMI decrease, SBP reduction, or HbA1c reduction. However, variation was detected in the cost-effectiveness assessments, indicating that the economic ramifications of telemedicine might differ. Telemedicine can be regarded as a realistic and successful alternative to in-person therapy for obesity control. While further study is needed to determine the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine, the results of this meta-analysis suggested that it is a potential way to combat the obesity pandemic.
Key words: Telemedicine, face-to-face, management, obesity, systemic review
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